SHAME OLD STORY SHAKES MEEHAN

STEVE MEEHAN insists struggling Bath are not paying the price for their summer drugs shame despite this shock defeat.

The West Country side have won just ONE game from eight and are one place off the foot of the Guinness Premiership.

They axed four players following a probe into drugs-taking at the end of last season on top of the loss of England star Matt Stevens, who had tested positive for cocaine.

Bath claimed a title play-offs spot last May but boss Meehan said: "Those matters are not spoken about, it's dead and buried.

"I don't know if our problems are technical or mental - chicken or egg?

"We were brilliant when we were in charge in the middle of the game and there is clearly lots of talent here.

"Our simple aim is just to climb up the Premiership ladder, using the talent that is here."

Falcons chief Steve Bates was delighted with a first league win of the campaign thanks to a try double from full-back Charlie Amesbury.

Bates said: "We got Charlie from Harlequins because he was not getting enough opportunities.

"He is magnificently strong, quick and has a superb left peg for downfield kicks."

Bates also praised 20-year-old England Saxons scrum-half Micky Young, who is already pushing for full international recognition after some impressive displays.

He added: "Micky is a truly exciting talent. He has fantastic attributes and not many players would have outstripped Nick Abendanon for his try.

"That sort of performance was always bubbling, despite our early-season results.

"We have endured three drawn matches, which obviously could have gone either way and we might have been in the top half of the table. And a try bonus-point was the icing on the cake."

Aussie centre Max Carraro got the opening try in an error-strewn game in the 35th minute as Bath edged 8-0 ahead.

Amesbury hit back for Falcons to make it 8-7 at the break only for Bath to respond with a second score from skipper Michael Claassens.

But Newcastle's revival began instantly with lock James Hudson crashing over for a try.

Young completed an 80-yard interception score and Amesbury finished the job by following up a kick from Jimmy Gopperth, who impressed with his kicking from hand.

Meanwhile Bath tighthead Duncan Bell is in line to start for England against Australia next month after Leicester's Julian White was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

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